The Pavlova Wars

The relationship between New Zealand and Australia is something like a sibling rivalry: each country jokes about the other but rely upon one another at the end of the day. Much of the rivalry comes from sports, although there are many disputes over the nationality of famous people and rock bands, and even the origins of some foods.

The most famous sporting incident that Kiwis will NEVER let the Aussies live down is The Underarm Bowling Incident which occurred on February 1, 1981 when New Zealand was playing Australia in the cricket World Series Cup in Melbourne, Australia. In order to prevent New Zealand from scoring to tie the match, the Australian bowler delivered the last ball underarm, along the ground. This action was technically legal, but seen as being against the spirit of the game.

The Underarm Bowling Incident of '81 continues to fan the flames of rivalry between Kiwis and Aussies. I've heard it argued about between my Kiwi and Aussie friends, especially after a few beers. New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key, recently said the Kiwis were ready to forgive Australia the underarm bowl, explaining that "we've certainly stopped the counseling sessions."

Another sporting rivalry is Phar Lap, a thoroughbred horse that was born in New Zealand and raced in Australia, winning two consecutive Melbourne Cups. Both countries claim him as their own.

The actor Russell Crowe is also claimed by both counties. Crowe was born in New Zealand and his family moved to Australia when he was 4 but he did not become an Australian citizen until 2006. Kiwis were recently annoyed when Australia put Crowe on a series of postage stamps recognizing great actors and actresses of Australia.

Actor Sam Neil is disputed across the Tasman Sea. Neil was born in Ireland to a Kiwi father and English mother, grew up in New Zealand, lives in Sydney Australia, and runs Two Paddocks Winery in New Zealand. Figure that one out.

In fact, many Kiwis move to Australia and the large continent is often referred to by Kiwis as the "brain drain." Former New Zealand prime minister, Robert Muldoon, once famously quipped that "New Zealanders who emigrate to Australia raise the IQ of both countries."

The rivalry rages on in the kitchen as well. Both countries claim to have been the inventors of Pavlova, a baked meringue dessert topped with whipped cream and fresh fruit and named after the Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova, who visited both countries in the 1920s. Although, recent evidence from a Kiwi food historian suggests that the Kiwis did indeed develop a recipe for Pavlova first....

New Zealanders and Australians also argue about the origins of the Lamington, a sponge cake coated in chocolate icing and dried coconut. I'm still not sure why any country would want to claim this bland dessert as their own.

And then there are the sheep jokes. I won't go into detail about them, but I'm sure you can imagine....

If your interested in making a truly Antipodean dessert, here is a simple recipe for the perfect Pavlova:

*Preheat an oven to 150C (300F).

*Whisk five egg whites into stiff peaks, adding 225g caster sugar and a pinch of salt.

*Fold in two teaspoons of cornflour and one teaspoon of vinegar. Then spoon the mixture on to a baking sheet, or into a lined cake tin.

*Cook for 45-60 minutes.

*Whip 275ml of double cream with a teaspoon of Kirsch. When the pavlova is cool, top with the cream, soft fruit (such as raspberries, strawberries, kiwi fruit, or passionfruit), sugar and serve.

No Mo' Moa

Reconstruction of a Moa
Credit: Zoological Society of London

The Moa was a huge, flightless bird that once roamed all over New Zealand but was hunted to extinction by the Maori. In fact, research suggest that it took only 300 years for the Maori to hunt the Moa to complete extinction after the Maori arrived in New Zealand around 1200 CE.

The Moa was an herbivore that thrived in New Zealand for thousands of years, living in forest, shrub land, and sub-alpine environments. It was once widely accepted that there were 10 species of Moa, however recent DNA evidence suggests that there may have only been 2 or 3 species. DNA testing also shows the Moa's closest relatives are the Australian Cassowary and Emu. The largest Moa stood over 12 feet tall and weighed over 500 lbs!

The Moa was a great source of food for the Maori. Archaeological evidence shows that the meat was cooked in large, outdoor ovens, the bones were fashioned into hooks, pendents and tools, skin and feathers were made into clothes, and the eggs were eaten and the shells used to carry water.

There are thousands of Moa remains, including recent bones, fossil bones, feet, feathers, soft tissue, eggshell fragments, footprint tracks, gizzard stones and even coprolites (fossilized poop)! Many caves have large deposits of Moa bones, including complete skeletons that allow scientists to accurately recreate the Moa's body structure.

Interestingly, although it is widely accepted that the Moa is extinct, there are some speculations that Moa still exist in extremely remote locations, such as Westland on the South Island. Every year there are sightings, but no strong evidence has been put forward to suggest that the Moa lives on.

To learn more about the Moa and see images, check out
http://www.teara.govt.nz/TheBush/NativeBirdsAndBats/Moa/en

Waitangi Day

February 6 is Waitangi Day, the national holiday here in New Zealand that marks the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840. In that year, representatives of the British Crown and over 500 Maori chiefs signed what is New Zealand’s founding document. The day was first officially commemorated in 1934, and it has been a public holiday since 1974.

The Treaty was signed at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands on the North Island. The Treaty itself is short, consisting of only three articles that officially made New Zealand part of the British Empire, guaranteed Maori rights to their land, and gave Maori the rights of British citizens. However, English and Maori versions of the Treaty differ significantly so there is no real consensus as to exactly what was agreed on.

Although the Treaty is generally seen as marking the beginning of the New Zealand nation, it was largely ignored for more than a century after its signing, and various legal judgements ruled it irrelevant to New Zealand law and government. Despite this, Maori frequently used it to argue that their rights were being denied.

Today, the style and mood of the celebrations on Waitangi Day have been influenced by the increasingly heated debate surrounding the place of the Treaty in modern New Zealand. The commemoration has often been the focus of protest by Maori activists and is often marked by controversy. Protest groups argue that the Treaty was a fraud with which Pakeha, or white New Zealanders, conned Maori out of their land.

Just yesterday, Prime Minister John Key was attacked by 2 Maori men at the Waitangi Day celebrations. While watching the news clips of the attacks, I had flashbacks of shoes flung at a certain former U.S. President....

While I enjoy learning about New Zealand's history and culture, I can't help but feel guilty about celebrating Waitangi Day. It would be like Americans celebrating a day to commemorate the many treaties that conned Native Americans out of their lands in the United States. On that note, the sun is out and my boyfriend has the day off so we're heading out for a hike!

Uncle Bob's Birthday

Robert Burns, widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, turns 250 this year. Also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's Favorite Son, or simply The Bard, Robert Burns is regarded as a pioneer of the Romantic movement and after his death, became a great source of inspiration to the founders of both liberalism and socialism.

A cultural icon in Scotland, Burns is also celebrated by the Scottish diaspora around the world. Dunedin (Scottish Gaelic for Edinburgh) was founded by Scottish settlers, including the nephew of Robert Burns, and continues to maintain a strong Scottish heritage. A bronze statue of Burns, usually topped with seagulls, sits in the city's central Octagon. This week, Dunedin celebrates Burns' birthday with song, dance, poetry readings, and even a haggis feast. Oh boy, sheep heart, liver and lungs boiled in sheep stomach!

Perhaps Burns' most well known poem/song is Auld Lang Syne, which is sung during New Years Eve celebrations (you know, that song no one seems to know the words to). Another famous poem/song is A Red, Red Rose, which has always been a favorite of mine. Here are the lyrics:

My love is like a red red rose That’s newly sprung in June; My love is like the melodie That’s sweetly play’d in tune.

So fair art thou, my bonnie lass, So deep in love am I; And I will love thee still, my dear, Till a’ the seas gang dry.

Till a’ the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt wi’ the sun: And I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands o’ life shall run.

And fare thee weel, my only love And fare thee weel, a while! And I will come again, my love, Tho’ it were ten thousand mile.

So put on that kilt, pull up those socks, break out the bagpipes, and toast Uncle Bob's birthday with a wee dram of whiskey! Slainte!